Hydraulic fluid pressure transmitter



Dec. 31, 1957 4 J3 cIllnmlc J. MERCIER HYDRAULIC FLUID PRESSURE TRANSMITTER Filed Nov.v 25, 1953 \m I \lx\\ 30 pff/454416 INI/ENToR. x

United States Patent HYDRAULIC FLUID PRESSURE TRANSMITTER Jean Mercier, New York, N. Y.

Application November 25, 1953, Serial No. 394,301

7 Claims. (Cl. 60-54.5)

This invention relates to the art of actuating units, more particularly to a hydraulic fluid pressure transmitter for remotely controlling the actuation of a movable member.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide a hydraulic fluid pressure transmitter of the above type that has but relatively few parts, not likely to become deranged even with long use, that is relatively simple to construct and may be operated with bnt a relatively simple manipulation to deliver fluid under pressure to a hydraulically controlled unit without the need for pressure accumulators or the like, to effect displacement of such unit by an amount proportional to the displacement of the fluid pressure transmitter and which will furnish additional fluid under pressure when required to complete the action of the hydraulically operated unit.

Another object is to provide a hydraulic fluid pressure transmitter of the above type having a piston with a resilient seal and in which the likelihood of injury to such resilient seal as it moves past ports in the lluid pressure transmitter, will be substantially prevented to avoid breakdown of such seal with resultant leakage and ineiiiciency of the fluid pressure transmitter.

ln the accompanying drawings in which are shown one or more of various possible embodiments of the several features of the invention,

Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional view of the hydraulic fluid pressure transmitter and hydraulic unit controlled thereby in one extreme position,

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are views similar to Fig. l of the fluid pressure transmitter in various positions of operation, and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view on a greatly enlarged scale of the seal ring.

Referring now to Fig, 1 of the drawings, the hydraulic fluid pressure transmitter desirably comprises a substantially cylindrical casing 11 closed at one end as at 12 and having its other end open as at 13.

The casing 11 at its closed end 12 desirably has a transversely extending boss or enlarged portion 14 through which extends two transverse longitudinally spaced control ports 15 and 16, the inner ends 17 and 18 of which lead into the bore 19 of casing 11. The second control port 16 adjacent the closed end 12 of the casing desirably has a cavity 21 therein in which is positioned a valve, desirably comprising a ball 22 normally retained by a coil spring 23 against the annular shoulder 24 formed by such cavity to seal the inner end 18 of port 16.

Two additional longitudinally spaced transverse ports 26 and 27 designated the outlet port and inlet port respectively, also have their inner ends 28, 29 leading into the bore 19 of casing 11, said ports 26 and 27 being positioned between the open end 13 of the casing and the first control port 15 and are illustratively on Athe side of casing 11 opposed to control ports 15 and 16. As is clearly shown in the drawings, the end 28 of port 26 leads into an elongated annular groove 30 in casing 11.

Slidably mounted in the bore 19 of casing 11 is an elongated piston 31. In order to provide a dependable fluid tight seal between the outer surface oftheppistonice 31 and the inner surface of the bore 19, the wall of said bore adjacent its open end 13 desirably has an annular groove 33 in which is positioned a resilient sealing member, preferably an O-ring 34.

The piston 31 desirably has an elongated annular groove 35 positioned adjacent its inner end 36, and a passageway 37, having one end 38 in annular groove 35 and its other end 39 in the inner end 36 of piston 31, connects said annular groove 35 with the portion of said bore 19 formed between such inner end 36 and the end wall 12 of the casing and defining a-chamberr 41.

The piston 31 desirably has a second annular groove 42 adjacent annular groove 35 and positioned between such annular groove 35 and the outer end 43 of the piston, a resilient seal ring, preferably an O-ring 44, being positioned in said second annular groove 42. The piston has a plurality of inclined passageways 45, each having one end exposed in the annular groove 42, and the other end exposed at the surface of the piston, the passageways affording relief of pressure against the O-ring 44 in the manner to be described.

Although any suitable means may be employed to elect longitudinal movement of the piston in the bore of the casing, as illustratively shown, such movement is accomplished by means of a screw 51 threaded through an opening 52 in a fixed member 53 and having a rotatable connection 54 to the end 43 of the piston 31 so that rotation of the screw by handle 55 will effect longitudinal movement of the piston in the bore of the casing. The position of the piston may be indicated by means of a pointer 40 carried thereby and having an associated scale 40 calibrated in the manner to be described.

The outlet port 26 is desirably connected by means of a line 57 to a reservoir 58 for fluid. The line 57 is desirably connected through a line 61, having a one-way valve 62 therein, to the inlet port 27, the valve 62 permitting flow of uid only from said reservoir into inlet port 27.

The outer ends 63 and 64 of control ports 15 and 16 are desirably connected by delivery line 65 to the port 66, preferably located in the end wall 67 of the cylinder 68 of a hydraulic unit, which may be located at some remote position, the cylinder 68 desirably having a port at its upper portion controlled -by a valve 70. A piston 69 is slidably mounted in cylinder 68 and desirably has an annular groove 71 in its periphery in which a resilient O-ring 72 is positioned yto provide a dependable seal. The outer end of the piston is desirably connected through a suitable linkage to a lever 73, pivoted at its lower end vas at 74 and desirably having a coil spring '75 affixed to its upper end whichjnormally urges the lever and hence the piston 69 connected thereto to the left as shown in Fig. l. The lever is suitably connected to the mechanism to be actuated, a sliding bulkhead door, for example, which normally is in open position and will be closed upon movement of the piston to the right in the manner hereinafter to be described.`

The piston, the ports, and various annular grooves are so constructed and arranged that, as shown in Fig. l, when the piston is in its outermost position, the outlet port 26 will be in communication through annular groove 30 with annular groove 35 and the inner ends 17 and 1S of ports 15 and 16 will be in communication with the chamber 41, the inner end 36 of the piston 31 being spaced from lsuch ports 15 and 16.

When the inner end 29 of port 27 is in communication with annular groove 35, due to the inward movement of the piston to the position shown in Fig. 3, the port 15 will be sealed by the inner end 36 of the piston and as the'resilient seal ring 44fwill have been moved to engage the bore of the casing, the port 26 will be sealed so that noifluid -willilow therethrough.

Operation Assuming that the fluid pressure transmitter` 11 and reservoir 58 are on i the bridge of a ship above the lcvcl of the cylinder 68, with the fluid` pressure transmitter in the position shown in Figl a iluid such `as oil may bc forced through valve 70 to chargethe various lines and the interior of the uid pressure transmitter.` The valve 70 is then closed and the system is ready for operation. To actuate the lever 73 to close, for examp1e,.a bulkhead door (notshown) the screw 51 is turned by handle 55 to move the piston 31 to the right. When the piston reaches the position shown in Fig. 2, as port 26 will then be sealed with respect to passageway 37, by the O-ring 44, which is moved into engagement with the casing bore 19, further movement of the piston to the rightnwill create a pressure on the `fluid in chamber 41. 'Such tluid will thereupon be forced through port -and line 65 into port 66 of the hydraulic cylinder68 to move the piston 69 therein to the right, thereby pivoting lever 73 against the tension of spring 75 to move the sliding bulkhead door toward closed position.

When the piston 31 has been moved from the posi.

tion shown in Fig. 2 to theposition shown in Fig. 3, the port 27 will be in communication with annular groove 35 and port 15 will be sealed. The volume of tluid from chamber 41 forced into cylinder 68 when the piston 31 is moved from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3 is the amount normally required to complete the closing of the'bulltheadv door. By calibrating the scale 40 so that the pointer 40 indicates open when the piston 31 is in the position lshown in Fig. 2 and closed when in the position `shown in Fig. 3, the position of the bulkhead door may readily be determined.

With the piston 31 in the position shown in Fig. 3 if, for example, due to a fall in temperature there should be a contraction ofthe fluid in the system, the lever 73 will not be pivoted sufficiently to etect full closing of the bulkhead door. To determine if the door is actually closed as indicated by the pointer 40 associated with the piston, the screw 51 is turned slightly to attempt to move the piston further to the right. If the door is closed, the screw will be diicult to turn. If the door is not fully closed, the screw will turn readily and the resultant further movement to the right of the piston 31 in cham-ber 41'to the position shown in Fig. 4 will force additional tluid. through port 16, through line 65 into cylinder 68 to pivot lever 73 an additional amount. By reason of the one-way valve 62 in line til,v no. fluid will escape from the chamber 41 through passageway 37, annular groove 35 and port 27.

As the pointer 40 has moved past closed position as shown in Fig. 4, itv may readily be moved back to this position and the chamber 41 recharged with iluid without affecting the bulkhead door. This is readily accomplished by turning screw 51 in direction. to move the piston 31 to the left. As both ports 15 and 16 are sealed, the former by the end 36 of the piston 31,V and the latter by ball valve 22, a suction will be created in chamber 41 which will cause tluid to be sucked from` reservoir 58, through line 61, valve 62, which is opened by such suc tion, port 27, annular groove 35' and passageway 37 into chamber 41 to ll the latter. Such suction action is eftected by merely turning the `screw 51 so that the piston 31 will be moved to the left a distance insufficient to open the port 15, i. e. to the position shown in Fig. 3.

When this has been done the pointer is now properly positioned so that subsequent actuation ofthe piston31 will properly indicate they position of the bulkhead door.

To open the bulkhead` door., itis merely necessary to move the piston 31 further` to the left from the position shown in Fig. 3 by `rotating thescrew 51. As the end 36 of the piston 31 moves past port `15 to` open the latter, duc to the pressure on the. tluid in the hydraulic cylinder 68, caused by the action offspring' 'l5 Elntnlovex '1'3 and piston 69, the lluid in cylinder 68 will be forced into chamber 41 and the door will move toward open position being fully opened when the piston is in the position shown in Fig. 2.

ln the event that the fluid in the system had expanded due to a rise in temperature, when the piston had originally been moved to the right to close the door, the pointer 40 would not have reached fully closed position when the screw 51 became dilcult to turn. This would indicate to the operator the need to calibrate the fluid pressure transmitter which would automatically be accomplished by moving the piston 31 toward the position shown in Fig. l. When the 0-ring 44 reaches the position shown in Fig. 2, due to the lluid pressure on the side of the O-ring adjacent annular groove 35 caused by the action of spring 75, the O-ring would tend to be extruded slightly into annular groove 30 toward port 26. As this occurs, a path for the fluid will be provided beneath the O-ring through passageways 45 and hence the pressure against the O-ring will be relieved without injury thereto which might otherwise be caused if no such pressure relief was provided and material extrusion occurred of the 0ring into passageway 26.

As the piston 31 reaches the position shown in Fig. l with the annular groove 35 in communication with annular groove 30, the excess tluid in the system may readily ilow through passageway 37, annular grooves 35 and 30, port 26 and line 57 to reservoir 58. Thus, upon the next actuation of the uid pressure transmitter, the pointer 40 will be properly calibrated with respect to the position of the bulkhead door.

Although the hydraulic huid pressure transmitter has been illustratively described as the actuating means for a bulkhead door, it is of course to be understood that it can be used to control any movable hydraulically oper ated unit, such as the rudder of a ship.

As many changes could be made in the above construction, and many apparently widely diiereut embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the` scope of the claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A tluid pressure transmitter comprising a casing having a bore therethrough closed at one end, a piston slidably mounted in said casing bore, said casing having a tirst control port and a second control port longitudinallyv spaced therefrom, said second control port being adjacent the closed end of the casing bore, said` ports leading into the casing bore adjacent the closed end thereof, valve means controlling the second control port and permitting tlow of lluid therethrough in direction only out of said second `control port, said piston having a groove in its periphery in communication with the portion of said casing bore between the closed end of said casing and the adjacent end of said piston, said casing having an outlet port and an inlet port, the latter port being longitudinally spaced from said outlet port, said last mentioned ports also leading into the casing bore, a one-way valve connected to said inlet port, said valve permittingv tlow of uid therethrough only in direction into said inlet port, said piston being of dimensions such that when the inlet port is aligned with said groove and the outlet port sealed by said piston, the piston will also seal the rst control port and be clear of the second control port.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which a line connects said inlet and outlet ports, said one-way valve connected to said inlet port being positioned in said line.

3. The combination recited in claim 1 in which the outlets of said control ports are connected by a common deliverylline.

4. The combination recited in claim 3 in which a hydraulically actuated unit is provided having a cylinder with an inlet port connected to said common delivery line, said cylinder having a piston movable therein between two extreme positions, the volume of fluid required to be forced into said cylinder to move the piston from one of said extreme positions to the other being substantially equal to the volume of the casing bore between the inlet port and the first control port.

5. A Huid pressure transmitter comprising a casing having a bore therethrough closed at one end and open at the other, a piston slidably mounted in said casing bore, said piston having its inner end adjacent the closed end of the casing, said. piston having an annular groove therein and a passageway extending through the inner end of said piston connecting said annular groove with the casing bore between the inner end of the piston and the closed end of said casing, a second annular groove in said piston adjacent the iirst annular groove and positioned between said rst annular groove and the other end of said piston, a resilient sealing ring in said second annular groove, said casing having a first control port and a second control port longitudinally spaced therefrom, said second control port being adjacent the closed end of the casing bore, said ports leading into said casing bore adjacent the closed end thereof, valve means controlling the second control port and permitting flow of iluid therethrough in direction only out of said second control port, said casing having an outlet port and an inlet port, said latter port being longitudinally spaced from said outlet port, said last mentioned ports also leading into said casing bore, a one-way valve connected to said inlet port, said valve permitting flow of nid therethrough only in direction into said inlet port, said piston being of dimensions such that when the inlet port is aligned with said rst annular groove and the outlet port sealed with respect to the casing bore by said piston, the piston will also seal the lirst control port with respect to the casing bore and be clear of the second control port.

6. The combination set forth in claim 5 in which said piston has a passageway therein exposed at one end in the bottom of said second annular groove and exposed at its other end at the outer surface of said piston, and means are provided to connect said other end of said passageway to the outlet port.

7. A fluid pressure transmitter comprising a casing having a bore therethrough closed at one end, a piston slidably mounted in said casing bore, said casing having a first control port and a second control port longitudinally spaced therefrom, said second control port being adjacent the closed end of the casing bore, said ports leading into the casing bore adjacent the closed end thereof, valve means controlling the second control port and permitting flow of fluid therethrough only out of said bore, said casing having an outlet port and an inlet port, the latter port being longitudinally spaced from said outlet port and positioned adjacent the closed end of the casing bore, said last mentioned ports also leading into the casing bore, a one-way valve controlling said inlet port, said valve permitting flow of tiuid therethrough only into said casing bore, said piston being of dimensions such that in its movement toward the closed end of the casing bore and in sealing relation to said outlet port, both control ports will be open for flow of uid under pressure therethrough and in its movement away from the closed end of the casing bore and from the second control port and in sealing relation to the outlet port and the first control port, it will alord communication between the inlet port and the casing bore.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,342,238 Wallace .Tune 1, 1920 2,380,575 Brown July 31, 1945 2,396,155 Christensen Mar. 5, 1946 2,580,850 Seppmann Jan. 1, 1952 2,678,539 Dunphy May 18, 1954 2,689,144 Uhrig et al. Sept. 14, 1954 2,739,855 Bruning Mar. 27, 1956 

